Premium
Profile and reintegration experience of Ebola survivors in Guinea: a cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Delamou Alexandre,
Camara Bienvenu Salim,
Kolie Jean Pe,
Guemou Achille Diona,
Haba Nyankoye Yves,
Marquez Shan,
Beavogui Abdoul Habib,
Delvaux Therese,
Griensven Johan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12825
Subject(s) - medicine , mcnemar's test , interquartile range , cross sectional study , demography , family medicine , gerontology , physical therapy , surgery , statistics , mathematics , pathology , sociology
Objective To describe the experience of Guinean Ebola virus disease ( EVD ) survivors in Guinea, up to ten months after discharge from the Ebola treatment unit. Methods Cross‐sectional study using a standardised semistructured questionnaire among survivors from Conakry and Coyah districts in 2015 in Guinea. We used proportions, mean (standard deviation) and median (interquartile range) to summarise the variables. The McNemar chi‐square test was used to compare proportions. Results The 121 EVD survivors interviewed had a median reintegration time from discharge of 18 weeks ( IQR : 14–32 weeks). Most survivors were aged 15–44 years (87.6%) with secondary to higher level of education (68.6%), and 25.6% were healthcare workers. The majority reported a lower socio‐economic status (90%), a less favourable work situation (79%) and psychological status (60%). About 31% reported physical health problems. Most survivors reported lower levels of reintegration with friends and at work place (72%) and lower acceptance by others in general (71%) in the period after the EVD as compared to the period before the EVD . Only 55 survivors (45.5%) were involved in one or more activities of the EVD response: participation in clinical studies on the EVD (44 survivors, 36.4%), community sensitisation (28 survivors, 23.1%) or work in Ebola treatment and/or transit centres (23 survivors, 21.7%). Conclusion There is a need for a long‐term follow‐up of EVD survivors in Guinea and more efforts to support their social, professional and economic reintegration, especially in rural areas.